As the US U-20 national team prepares for the 2010 Dallas Cup which starts this upcoming Sunday, one of the most notable absences on the US roster is West Ham U18 midfielder Sebastian Lletget.

Lletget, 17, is widely considered to be one of the top American prospects but has raised concern about his commitment to the US program since he reportedly declined an invitation to play at last year's U17 World Cup.

This concern, however, was largely eased when Lletget was invited by US head coach Thomas Rongen to the first US U20 camp of the 2011 cycle this past December.

YA has learned that Lletget was also invited by Rongen to take part in the upcoming Dallas Cup but since he is recovering from a recent illness, his coaches at West Ham decided that he should remain in London.

"It's not that I wasn't allowed to go to the Dallas Cup," Lletget told YA. "I'm recovering from being ill and the coach didn't want to jeopardize my health any further."

I think Subotic thinks of himself as an American, but WRongen didn't give him the opportunity, so he left. The guy is STARTING in the Bundesliga, but doesn't get picked for the US U-20 team???? Something needs to change and I feel it's the "Powers to be", starting at the top and moving on down. I don't feel Sunil Gulati has a clue about what he's doing and as long as he's in charge, then the US teams will continue to suffer.

Calitos

Tuesday March 23, 2010 11:45 pm

I hope this is not a recurring theme like subotic and rossi....

starspangledcannon

Tuesday March 23, 2010 7:48 pm

Lleget is of different ilk than both Subotic and Rossi. He calls himself American, something that both the former players really didn't claim. He is a superb talent and hopefully he continues his development as he is the type of player we need in the nation team set up in the future.

Jose

Tuesday March 23, 2010 1:42 pm

May be ,,he think that with Rongen ,, nothing to learn,,,, don't want to be embarrassed with another lose

Mike Sims

Tuesday March 23, 2010 12:37 pm

we better not lose this kid.

Subotic and Rossi were more than enough...

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